Coolmore Sires Top The Tables On Day 1 Of Arqana

18/08/2019

Coolmore sires enjoyed a profitable Saturday in Deauville, where they accounted for the three most expensive lots sold on the opening day of the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

The top price of €800,000 was paid by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for a son of Galileo offered by Haras d’Etreham as Lot 23. The February-born colt is the first foal out of dual Group 3 winner Steip Amach, who was also placed twice at the highest level, and when Phoenix’s Tom Ludt was asked to explain the colt’s appeal, he said, “Well, he's a Galileo. He’s a beautiful colt and we’d love to have a great Galileo colt.”

Galileo also accounted for the next highest priced yearling of the day, as the Godolphin team went to €750,000 for Lot 68 from Haras de la Perelle. Anthony Stroud did the bidding for the colt out of Cladocera, another multiple Stakes winner and Group 1 performer. Commenting on their purchase, the agent said, “He's a very nice yearling, very athletic, by the wonderful stallion Galileo and out of a mare who was a Group winner. He's got the right ingredients and we liked him as an individual so we wanted to press the go button."

Galileo could also lay claim to the third highest price, this time as damsire, after David Redvers stretched to €700,000 for a Fastnet Rock half-brother to top-class filly Sistercharlie. Offered as Lot 21 by Ecurie des Monceaux, the colt out of Starlet’s Sister (Galileo) will race in the colours of Qatar Racing, with a trainer to be decided at a later date.

After signing the docket, Redvers commented, “He's out of probably the most exciting young mare and is bred on one of the most exciting crosses. He's the most gorgeous horse and he walked around the ring like he'd long ago decided he owned the place. We're very excited to have him.”

Fresh from siring two maiden winners on the Tramore card that same afternoon, Camelot saw three of his progeny sell for six-figure sums, while Saturday’s sole offerings by Gleneagles and Holy Roman Emperor both passed the €100,000 mark. Zoffany sired two six-figure lots on the day, the highest price of €220,000 paid for Lot 66 from Haras des Capucines, a half-sister to Stakes winners Smuggler’s Cove (Fastnet Rock) and Casterton (Fastnet Rock).

The only lot by Mastercraftsman offered on Saturday benefitted from her full-brother Technician’s Group 3 win earlier in the day and was rewarded with a selling price of €240,000.